Gretchen Jones won? Talk about someone spinning dross from gold. OK, this is TV, not a discussion of nuclear waste or how to intercept terrorism or Sharron Angle’s white-woman racism. But I’m a confirmed Runway fan — and this year you may consider my sadness/fury/revulsion to be duly registered.

The wrong person won. I mean, I’ve hitched my stitches to the show through the years — during its imbecilic jaunt to La La Land (has anyone ever looked less comfortable in LA than Tim Gunn?), even during those seasons that pomposity cases like Christian Siriano took all the marbles.

But Gretchen Jones?

Lord, let us pray. May we please just get the Apocalypse over with?

My problem with Jones winning is partly that, yes, the woman came off as so hateful — not to mention treacherous, sneaky, snappy, snarky and underhanded. She was the Pol Pot of Season 8.

I do understand that Project Runway is a competition, and that some of us on this difficult and crowded planet simply can’t compete unless their trigger-finger is on a nuclear device every 20 minutes.

In Jones’ case, if there was at least some coherent talent there — real talent, a sense of individuality, something beyond the mercenary and the cunning — then maybe I could overlook her unpleasantness.

An even bigger issue, though, is that the extraordinarydebatingmarathon that raged the Hundred Years War between the Project Runway judges — Heidi Klum and guest Jessica Simpson, favoring Mondo Guerra; and Nina Garcia and Michael Kors jonesing for Jones — actually told us more about the judges, about the serious challenges facing the show, than about the designers themselves.

Maybe I know nothing about fashion. Maybe I should stick to calling out Rethuglicans for ruthlessly destroying our country. But watching Project Runway on Thursday night, watching Kors yabber on and on and on about what’s hip, hot and happening right now, listening to the man kvetch, whine and moan about Guerra’s clothing being “too young” when Kors himself is a patently over-bronzed and tubby 51, made me wonder if a generation gap is starting to brew on the show — if a generation gap is already in evidence.

Does that sound ageist? You bet your bippy it does.

I realize perfectly well that age has nothing to do with the ability to identify and promote that which is fashion-forward. But something about the judges’ blather this year, especially everyone asserting the better knowledge of what is young and trendy right now, made me think to myself, “Hey, Nina, you’re 43!” and “Hey, Heidi, you’re 37!” I shouldn’t even be thinking in those terms, right? Why did it feel with all the judges like the lady doth protest too much?

Perhaps the seeds of doubt were planted throughout the season, and were ripe for picking.

After all, it was more glaring than ever this year that the judges are as inconsistent in their tastes, standards, demands, reviews and expectations as Christine O’Donnell’s claims of being chaste (sorry, I mean, chased). Kors, Klum and Garcia were, more often than not, beyond inchoate: “We want this and now we want that” one week became “We want that and now we want this” the next. They were whimsical, fickle, tempestuous, amorphous, contradictory and impossible. No wonder half the contestants on this year’s Project Runway looked like they wanted to slug someone. If Lifetime wants to produce reality-TV shows about King Henry VIII, Catherine the Great and Margaret Thatcher, let them at least be up front about it. (You can draw which judge parallels which tyrant any way you want.)

The press release announcing Jones as the winner of Season 8 included this copy:

What happened was Klum and Simpson went to bat for the superior Guerra and ultimately caved to Kors and Garcia. Why I’ll never know. Maybe because the producers demanded a lowest-common-denominator winner?

Sorry, Mondo.

But as Adam Lambert learned, it’s probably better to be a runner-up on one of these programs than to win.

Leonard Jacobs is the founder and editor emeritus of The Clyde Fitch Report.

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Ten years from now Gretchen will be selling her riduculous earthy-crunchy clothes and hand-made jewelry at the weekend Saturday Market in Oregon and bossing around the other outdoor vendors under the guise of giving helpful advice; Mondo will be a huge creative success on the New York runways!

Denise10-30-2010

I am still in shock. Mondo’s collection was far and away better than Gretchen’s. (As was Andy’s.) Not only did the wrong designer win, they rewarded Wretchen for her nasty, backstabbing behavior. I can’t wait to see her collection in Big Lots.

Karen10-30-2010

This is the first time I have ever written…but the audacity of knots and Garcia supporting Gretchen was I feel purely personal in that mondo stayed true to himself and not to them…they criticized others for not staying true and then when mondo does rather than taking their command…they oust him…Monro’s fashions so outclassed gretchen’s 70’s fluff…I am sad and frustrated all in one and can’t imagine how mondo must feel…don’t give up mondo…you are sooooo talented…

Leslee10-30-2010

Yes, hurrah for Gretchen’s horrible little panty outfits. In what era was that fashionable? Certainly not this one.

Mondo is unique and deserved to win. I think Michael Kors and Nina Garcia have lost their minds.

I don’t know one woman who would be caught dead in those ugly clothes of Gretchen’s. Well, maybe dead. They do seem perfect for funerals.

Sash10-30-2010

I don’t know what the hell they were thinking!!! As a designer Mondo was miles a head of Gretchen. Gretchen’s collection was dull, boring, and unoriginal. It also looked to me that Michael Kors was a bit jealous of Mondo’s creativity and talent. That’s why he was so adamant about Gretchen b/c she is the same “type” of designer as him i.e. dull, boring, unoriginal, and completely forgettable! Generations from now no one will remember either Micheal Kors or Gretchen but Mondo is an original.

giselle10-30-2010

First let me say that I was a fan of Mondo from the very beginning, but I have to agree with the judges on their decision. Gretchen’s collection was more polished, chic and very expensive looking. Mondo’s although nice and very colorful to took at, was very confusing. He’s first blouse/short combo was more mature and the rest became to young and costume like. I actually liked Andy’s collection more than Mondo’s. Please watch the show again and everyone will see what I mean….

Kelly10-30-2010

Move over Jaclyn Smith Your competition has just won Project Runway. I am glad to know that the judges picked the more practical line. I can just imagine the average woman wearing panties to the grocery store, work or a PTA meeting. I especially look forward to seeing the green leather cover and panties on the beach this summer. Way to go judges. You really know the brown drab desires of the average woman.

stephanie10-30-2010

i couldnt believe Gretchen won. And the argument was infuriating! If, as Michael Kors put it, gretchen’s fashion is “what’s next” then i plan on going naked. Her dirt coloured garments looked like they were from a second hand store. The judges were right that Gretchen’s clothes will be in department stores…probably on the racks at Target any day now. I’m certain Mondo will be a huge success while Gretchen sinks into obscurity.

You are all sweetly naive. There are always one or two contestants each season chosen by the producers to be the designer(s) viewers ture in each week to hate.

I have never met Gretchen Jones but I loved her clothes and I think people dislike her because she is a strong and outspoken woman.

JAckie10-30-2010

Not everyone was backstabbing. Michael C did not say a bad word about anyone. He should have been in the final 3. Michael C, Andy & Mondo. Gretchen did not belong there and DID NOT deserve to win! MONDO all the way. I read that Michael C. & Mondo are getting a show. They deserve it!

I loved Mondo’s creations and he will succeed. Gretchen is a drama queen and the producers of Project Runway kept her on and hoped this would help in the ratings. They selected as a finalist Drama Queen Gretchen who designed those ugly ill fitted green play shorts. Michael Kor described Gretchen’s designs as granola and then he picked her as one of the finalist; figure that one. Gretchen won but I think Mondo will get some offers.

I loved Emilio Sosa’s designs; Seth Aaron’s designs were beautifully crafted but then some of his designs were a little out there. Check out Seth Aaron’s latest collection for 2010.